Her gaze narrowed as it slid over me from head to toe. “I do love my cuffs. And I don’t doubt you’d enjoy the feel of the cold steel against your skin.” She sipped her champagne then. “But I’m not here for you. I happen to love a good cause.”
She wanted to play games. She was here to tempt me, but for what reason? Into making a mistake? I wasn’t going to play.
But you want to.
I had already had a chat with her section chief, so she was walking on thin ice. Playing a game she didn’t know the rules of and one I was quite looking forward to. Turning my smile into a smirk, I lowered my voice and leaned forward. “I must say, you’re an excellent fighter and surprisingly quick. Well done with the Taser. I still have the taste of metal in my mouth. The next time we tussle though, I dare hope there will be significantly less clothing.”
I spent a good deal of time watching people. Nyla Kincade was a pro. Her expression remained cool and placid, save a quick blink and slight purse of her lips. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what you’re on about."
I leaned close, inhaling deep. “Oh, but I know you do. I tracked you as you darted through the South Bank.” The bartender slid a scotch across the bar to me, and I lifted my glass to take a sip. “The quick change, the prosthetics. You are very, very good. But I think I was most impressed with your hand-to-hand skills. I have to tell you, Agent Kincade, you left some bruises. I should probably discuss with my therapist just how arousing I found that, but that’s neither here nor there.”
“Your kinks are none of my business.”
“Oh, but they could be.” My blood hummed, even though I should be afraid, worried. At the very least wary. She met my gaze and lifted her chin. Christ, I wanted to taste her. “I should be worried about you, Agent Kincade. How’s the eye? The make-up job is excellent. It’s hard to see the bruising. I am sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“Again. Not me. You’re mistaking me for some kind of badass. I wish I could meet this woman and have her teach me her ways. But alas, I’m not who you think I am.”
The humming had found its way to my brain, short circuiting it. Because instead of trying to get answers, all I wanted was to take another deep whiff. Find out if she smelled like sweet honeysuckle all over her body. My guess was yes.
“I think you're very naughty and have found yourself in way over your head. All you have to do is tell me what you were hoping to achieve, and I’ll give you back your SD card, unwiped. Honestly, there wasn’t anything good on it, but you worked so hard to sneak in and disguise yourself. Hell, I might even give it to you if you say please just right.”
She leaned into me and the last remaining ability I had to think vanished in favor of my cock acting all kinds of inappropriately.
“Mr. Hale.”
“Hmmm?”
“Feel free to hold your breath. See how long you can last. I dare you. You might as well, because I’m never going to give you what you want.”
Nyla
First of all, up close and personal East Hale was make-you-stupid handsome. He smelled like something piney and clean. And it was debilitating. I was lucky I had functioning brain cells around him. The other times we’d met had been fleeting, and he hadn’t been so… close. And well, the last time I was focused on not getting caught. But now, with his low voice and sandalwood cologne helping to amplify his potent masculine swagger, it was a wonder I could speak.
He also has you dead to rights.
How the fuck had he tracked my movements? I’d had that route mapped out. There were very few cameras. And how did he have access to CCTV? He wasn’t law enforcement or intelligence services.
I’d come here play nice and back off like I’d been ordered to.
You came to pretend.
Okay, fine. I’d come to pretend. I’d also come to tag him with a listening device. I had zero intention of walking away from the London Lords, despite my father’s direct orders. I would get my proof, and then my father would have no choice but to listen to what I had to show him about East Hale. Well, him or one of his friends. He was just the first one who took notice. I hadn’t been lying when I said the dress was bait. He had me. He knew he had me. The question was how I was going to play this. I could continue to deny it, or I could own it. Then we would be two warriors facing off.
With a deep breath I met his gaze. “How’s your shoulder? Did I hurt you?”
His eyes went wide, and his broad smile lit his face. “You’re certainly ballsy. I really thought you would continue to deny it.”
I sighed and polished off my champagne. “What’s the point? You saw me.”
“That I did.” His gaze narrowed on me as he watched me warily. “You are a naughty little thing.” His heat was like a caress. “So what are you doing here?”
I sidled up to him, patting his jacket with my right hand. “Well, I was instructed to apologize. So I came here to do that.”
His grin was quick and devilish. “Bullshit.”
Absolutely bullshit. I’d touched him very specifically to distract him as I reached into his opposite lapel and planted the bug. I might not have my father’s support, but if I came with hard proof, he couldn’t deny me. And East Hale was going to give it to me.
My smile dimmed somewhat as he studied my face carefully. I’d covered the bruise with makeup, but there
